Geolocation technology refers to the use of technology to identify the position of an electronic device. Since most gadgets are mobile, the technology can also be said to trace the whereabouts of the individual using it. Casinos use this technology to establish their player’s geographical position and ensure they are within jurisdictions that allow gambling. Accordingly, if you want to wager on ICE Kasyno, you must be within the locale where the site is licensed to operate.
The playhouse has the ultimate responsibility of ensuring that all those who access their games are within the allowable territories. This ensures that the legal requirements are met.
Methods of Geolocation
There are four main methods of establishing a person’s geographical position. Scholars advise that a mixture of all the methods should be used to ensure there are no gaps and no way for a person to manipulate or hide their actual locale.
Cellular Positioning
This technology uses mobile devices to determine its physical position. It relies on cell towers to establish the locale. Given that there are fewer bases in remote areas as compared to city dwellings, it might be hard for this method alone to establish the exact positioning of the device. Additionally, the owner of the device might not necessarily be using it in the place it is found.
Use of IP Addresses
This method uses data from stored IP addresses and compares it to the IP address from a gadget to determine where it is. However, gamblers can easily bypass this system by using software that is meant to hide their IP address. Thus, it is not reliable on its own.
Use of GPS
The majority of mobile devices have in-built GPS detecting devices; hence the casino can just compare the information from the gadget to the database to establish where it is.
However, this method is limited to when the gadget is in areas with poor connectivity. It can also be manipulated by use of software to change or hide the coordinates.
Wi-Fi Geolocation
This process involves comparing the Wi-Fi networks a gadget is located to those in the database of the area hence ascertaining the position. Though difficult and expensive, it is still possible for users to manipulate and hide their whereabouts.
Risks Associated with Geolocation Technology
Geolocation technology carries risks such as privacy invasions, where unauthorized tracking can reveal personal locations and habits. Let`s discuss it in detail.
Misuse of Data
In the current business environment, data is a very important element of any company’s decision-making process. While every care is taken by punting houses to ensure that all data collected on players is used for the intended purpose, it is possible to still use the same data for the benefit of making profits. By knowing where your players are all the time, it is possible to fashion advertisement material to target them. This can induce a gambler to place a bet even when they would not have had they not received the specific advertisement targeting them.
Player Privacy
The player’s physical position is easily ascertained by the betting house. This means that they can predict the players’ patterns and routines, thereby knowing private information about the players. The betting establishment may use the information in a positive or negative manner. The risk is the fact that the player did not authorize the additional information being deduced from their location.
The purpose of the player allowing access to their geographical position was just to be able to access the site. However, once additional information is deduced from their whereabouts, then there is a breach of privacy as there was no consent sought from the owner of the information.
Benefits of Geolocation Technology
By establishing their clients’ locale, the playhouse can determine whether or not to allow the player access to their games. This would thus ensure it only allows bets to be placed from jurisdictions they are allowed to operate in. A wagering house that is found to be non-compliant and violates the betting regulations stands to be fined high amounts. In some cases, they can even lose their operating license. These penalties would apply even when the punting house had put in place steps to ensure compliance, but these steps were not thorough enough to convince the regulator that the playhouse was not at fault. Thus, it is important to employ all the methods possible to prevent this calamity and comply with regulations.
The need to know the user’s geographical position is well-founded in regulation. It assists in ensuring gambling happens only in authorized jurisdictions. However, with the emergence of data as an important decision-making tool, appropriate further legislation is necessary to ensure that the user’s privacy is guaranteed. There should be systems in place to stop the casinos from using the data gathered to maximize profits or unfairly target customers with marketing promotions.
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